The US GoM Diving Safety Workgroup is a US GoM focused, non-competitive and non-commercial group of oil and gas operators, transmission companies, commercial diving companies, supporting sub-contractors, organizations and industry stake holders. The group will provide a unified voice to promote and improve diving safety, through the following:
Identification and sharing of best practices
Identify and seek solutions to industry challenges and issues
Review and comment of existing and proposed standards and guidelines
Provide input to the regulators and industry associations
May General Membership Meeting
Please join us either in person at Oceaneering (5004 Railroad Ave, Morgan City, LA 70380) or via TEAMS
for May 20th, 2026 - DSWG General Membership Meeting, we look forward to seeing you all there.
We are looking for a Lunch sponsor
Agenda Items for May 20th meeting
Incident and Industry Shares
Industry updates
Presentations will be announced soon
ADCI - update from Phil Newsum
IMCA - update from Ali Macleod
Pipeline Flange-Up Committee Update - Troy Turner
US DMT vs IMCA DMT gap analysis committee update - Nicolas Hess
Special Election to replace Billy Bratkowski
William (Billy) Bratkowski has notified the board that he is stepping down from the board due to a change of employment outside the diving industry.
Billy has been involved in the DSWG since the beginning and the Board sincerely appreciates Billy's dedication to the DSWG and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.
The by-laws require a special election at the next general meeting.(May 20th)
As per the by-laws this post is notification that the nomination window is now open until the time of voting at the general meeting in May.
Please email your nominations for the open diving contractor board position to John.Hocutt@talosenergy.com (Please put Board Nomination in the subject)
We will also accept nominations at the beginning of the meeting in May.
This position will be filled from May through November.
In November of 2026 when William's original 2-year term expires a new vote for this position will take place. (2-year term)
You need to confirm that anyone you nominate is aware prior to nomination.
You can nominate yourself. When the nomination is sent please CC the nominee.
All nominees will need to provide a short bio.
Directions to the meeting:
Oceaneering (5004 Railroad Ave, Morgan City, LA 70380)
Park in front lot and enter through the front door.
Please RSVP to John Hocutt or Nicholas Hess if you plan to attend
(Oceaneering will need names of those attending for headcount for meeting and planning lunch)
We are looking for a member to share an LFI for the meeting
Underwater Magazine: Phil Newsum Remembers Randy Abadie
Phil Newsum writes about Randy Abadie in the May/Jube 2019 issue of Underwater Magazine.
"On Friday, April 26th, the industry lost a man whose contribution to diver safety needs to be shared with all who should read this."
This article remembering Randy can be found in the May/June 2019 Issue on page 10
The April/May 2017 Issue of Underwater Magazine, which is published by the Association of Diving Contractors International,
features an article about the DSWG meeting that took place at the Neutral Bouyancy Laboratory in the Johnson's Space Center in Houston.
If you have not received the latest issue or read the story online, follow the link below to read the article in digital format.
Again, thank you to everyone for the continued support and progression of the group to lead safety for commercial diving.
Exotic Species Alert - Lionfish (Family Scorpaenidae)
Information, Concerns, Contact:
Lionfish are native to the warm waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. Since there are no known Atlantic or Gulf predators, lionfish have quickly expanded their range throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish are voracious predators and may compete with other important reef fish such as groupers and snappers. Click Here for More Information
There are NO dues or other Fees required to be a member. We simply ask that you provide your time and input to promote safe operations for commercial diving in the US Gulf of Mexico.
Phil Newsum writes about Randy Abadie in the May/Jube 2019 issue of Underwater Magazine.
"On Friday, April 26th, the industry lost a man whose contribution to diver safety needs to be shared with all who should read this."
This article remembering Randy can be found in the May/June 2019 Issue on page 10
The April/May 2017 Issue of Underwater Magazine, which is published by the Association of Diving Contractors International,
features an article about the DSWG meeting that took place at the Neutral Bouyancy Laboratory in the Johnson's Space Center in Houston.
If you have not received the latest issue or read the story online, follow the link below to read the article in digital format.
Again, thank you to everyone for the continued support and progression of the group to lead safety for commercial diving.
Lionfish are native to the warm waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. Since there are no known Atlantic or Gulf predators, lionfish have quickly expanded their range throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish are voracious predators and may compete with other important reef fish such as groupers and snappers. 
